The Name & Earliest Family Records

Crumbleholme / Crombleholme family records have been found from the 14th century onwards. These families featured in the local church at Ribchester to the south of the Bowland area in Lancashire and also in the forest community and the Deer Park at nearby Leagram near Chipping. A branch of the family also lived in the nearby Dutton area. In 1530, a member of this family Richard Crombleholme [13] brought a lawsuit against the Abbot of Whalley and a decade later was able to buy former church lands arising from the dissolution of the Monasteries and then sell part of these to others.  

This Dutton branch of the family became land owners in the surrounding areas marrying into other local families such as the Hothershalls, Sherburnes, Townley and Parkinsons. A branch of the Dutton family moved to the Long Preston area to the north east. Another branch of the family from Crombleholme Fold in Goosnargh near Beacon Fell also originated from the Dutton branch. 

However, all branches of the family appear to have a common originating area. The name is very rare and seemingly, from records that have been located to date, can be traced to an area which gave rise to the name itself.

Early Names:

In early times, the number of families living in Bolland would have been small. There are a limited number of christian names in the early local records that survive and this suggests many close family relationships with local intermarriage being common due to both the remoteness of the area and the sparse population. It gradually became necessary to attach a "surname" to individuals in order to identify them. This process started in the C13th and by 1450, it is estimated that three quarters of the population had hereditary family names. Another fifty years later and it was almost everyone.

Not many ordinary people before the 13/14th centuries took (or indeed were given) surnames. Large landowners obviously became well known as coming from their home region (ie Roger de Poitou).  The general rise in population together with feudal laws and collection of rents and dues gradually made them a necessity. Although quite rare on a national scale, many families in this particular area took their names literally from the soil.

The land upon which they dwelt became a identifying suffix to their christian name and in turn, the land itself had often been given its name by its own topography -  Crombleholme (in its various spellings) was one such name.

Crombleholme : The Name

A number of early records survive which actually appear to identify the tract of land which by its topography became known as:

"Crombilholme / Crombewalholm".

As both Old English (OE ie pre 1150 AD) components of the name are of Germanic/Norse base, it could be conjectured that the land was originally named in Norse by those settling on it. The place name adhered and in time it was then taken as a surname perhaps by their descendants.

The OE "cromb/crumb" meaning bent or crooked derived from the low German "crom/crum" with the old Norse equivalent being "krumr". The "b" is what is known as an intrusive growth since then. Crumb would have almost certainly been pronounced "croom".

The OE "holm(e)" is widespread meaning a flat piece of land often being a water meadow.

Bring the two together and the name literally describes a flat piece of land in the bend of a river.

The various spellings of the name seem to occur at all periods and there does not appear to have been a distinct trend in the manner in which it has been recorded. Phonetically the spelling of the name as "Crombleholme", "Cromleholme"  or "Crumlum" does  not really  alter the pronunciation. 

Some more detail ! 

The letters B  and P were or became interchangeable as with the letter V which became B in various names and places (believed also to be influenced by dialect and the Vikings). The letter V was originally written in Celtic with a shortened right hand branch – it appears to have developed into a b

The name could be from the Anglo Saxon

CRYMBAN                              - Bend

CRYMBING                             - Bending

CRYMPON                              - Curl

CRUMB & CRUMP                    - crooked

CRAMPLE                               - Pool or Cranes (birds)

HOL                                      - Cave or dwelling place

HOLM                                    - ocean/sea or island

Or from the Norse  (Viking) :

HOLMR                                  - Island

VIK                                        - Harbour ( ing means of or in a harbour)

The R at the end of HOLMR may be that the R was mistaken for or became E

CRUMBLEHOLME appears to mean a crooked island in its literal sense or dwelling place on a bend (water, sea, river, lake or pool).

There is an interesting link below relating to some university studies into Viking descent which mentions Crombleholme as a name. My own DNA make up indicates that I have 19% Viking ancestry)

Surnames for West Lancs (names of those promising to contribute to the stipend of the priest of  the altar of Our Lady of Ormskirk, 1366; plus place-names):

Balshaw, Brown, Carr, Coly, Cook, Cooper, Fletcher, Gray, Holland, Holmes, Jones(son), Leyland,

Melling, Molyneux, Otty, Prescott, Rimmer, Serjeant, Thomasson, Walsh, Webster, Westhead, Alker,

Bilsborrow, Charnock, Corfe, Crombleholme [Cro0002], Gill, Hesketh,.........................

http://www.le.ac.uk/ge/maj4/VikingPoster.pdf

Another related site :

http://www.archaeologyuk.org/ba/ba103/feat1.shtml

Early History :

Roman Era : 

The sketch map of the Roman era below shows the site of Crombwalholme in the bend of the River Hodder shortly before the River Loud flows into it. It is interesting to note the route of the Roman Road which passes just to the south east of the site. Settlements in this area may even predate the Roman Road and the road itself would have made travelling very easy even hundreds of years later. It could, of course, have been both a blessing and curse as invaders would have probably used the road as well as the locals and traders. Recent Lidar images (top RH corner) of the ford river crossing of the Hodder just to the east of Crombwalholme area show the clever Roman engineering in getting the road down to the river itself

The Earliest Records of the Name:

These very early records of the family name are sparse and cannot always be put into context. They do, however, hopefully serve to illustrate the above comments and notes.

Until October 2023, the earlist record was the 1334 one below. However, my co-researcher Mike Murtha (BC Canada) has now found  several C13th records at York.

1270 - Robert de Cromholm [Cro1366] who was recorded as a priest at St Peter's York Minster, York. One particular deed is dated 1277 and describes Robert as "maior" which probably means major / senior priest indicating that he must have been at least middle aged having been born in say 1250.

1298 - John Cromholm [Cro1367] was recorded as a priest at St Peter's York Minister.

(Source for above : Raines Collection - Chetham Library Volume 28 - Records of Vicars Choral at St Peter's Minster in York)

Note : St Peter's Minister is otherwise known as the famous York Minster - the present gothic style cathedral was constructed between 1220 and 1472 so in 1276, it was only some 50 years into its construction. Vicars Choral probably refers to chantry priests.  

In 1334, Elias Crumbilholme [Cro001]  was recorded as a chaplain in Ribchester. The Early Clerics A century later another chaplain of the same church is William de Cromelholme. [Cro0006]  It is interesting to note the latter is given as "of" Cromelholme using the Norman French used in recording at this time.

Early C13th : However, in the Coucher Book or Chartulary of Whalley Abbey, (Lancashire) there is a Latin record of a gift being to the Abbey which includes ......"the land which lies between the earth of Elias the clerk"   and later ..."Elias the clerk of Ribchester" 

This gift appears to have been made by Walter Moton of Ribchester who, from other research into his family, seems to have lived there during  King John's reign [1199-1216]. It may be possible that the Elias above is an ancestor of the Elias Crumbilholme [Cro0001] below (see 1334)   (Source : Remains Historical & Literary connected with the Palatine Counties of Lancaster & Chester pub by Chetham Society Vol XVI (MDCCCXLV11 = 1848 ?) page 870 with research into the Moton family on p 868)

1323 - Scottish raiders reduced Ribchester to ruins - it was a dangerous time to live in this area !

However the surname is also recorded as a Place Name: 

1324   - From records of the Manor of Bolton-le-Sands (a village on the coast north of Lancaster - low lying and wet coastal area). In the extent of 1324.... The Abbot of Furness held the hamlet of Crouholme or Clomore, formerly of the same fee, by the service of 1s 6d . 

1334 - 12th July : (8 Edward III) At Lancaster.

Writ to the sheriff:

If Elias Crumbilholme [Cro0001] chaplain make him secure to prosecute his claim, the sheriff shall take pledges for the appearance of Ellen Walmesley widow, William Walmesley labourer and Eliz Walmesley labourer, all of Ribchester before the Justices at Lancaster to show why by force and arms they broke down the plaintiff's close at Ribchestr', overturned his soil with ploughs and took grass to the value of 40s., reaped it, trod it down and consumed it with other enormities to the great damage of the plaintiff. (N709). (see early Clerics for more details). (Source : De Hoghtons Deeds & Papers  - Lanc Rec Soc Vol 88 p151 - No 809.  + History of Lancashire p35 check )

1341-2 - From the accounts of John de Radeclif, Keeper of Clitheroe Castle in the year 1341-2 the entry for Bashall ward:

"...............John de Plesington for three waste plots called Crombewalholm*, Swaynesholm, and les Leghes"......27s 4d.

Note : A waste was land used commonly by tenants and were usually found on manor boundaries.

 * This can be identified as being the area where today the well cultivated farms of Stakes and the Lees are situated. (see photograph and OS map extract below)

1349 - 8th September to 11th January : First outbreak of the Black Death in Lancashire - it killed about 3000 people in Preston; 3000 in Kirkham parish; 800 in Poulton-le Fyde; 3000 in Lancaster; 2000 in Garstang and about 400 in Ribchester. The plague struck again mainly confined to the north of England in 1361 and again in 1379. The longest outbreak was the last one in 1390. It was known as the foreign death due to the rumour that traders arriving in the Humber had brought it with them. In York alone, some 11,000 people perished out of a population thought not to exceed 13,000. 

c 1350 - Edmund Crombleholme [Cro1288] mentioned in Shuttleworth Deeds   (Source : Shuttleworth Deeds Chetham Soc Vol 91 p54)  Note : In Index as p54 but could not found on that page ! (RC  LCRO 1984)

1361  - From the list of possessions of Henry, Duke of Lancaster on his death in 1361: (among a list of some 29 plots)

"............Crombewell Holme." ** (Source : The above two instances are taken from extracts from (Greenwood & Bolton) "Bolland Forest & Hodder Valley".  p36 They note * on the 1341 record and note that ** is one word and near Browsholme in the 1361 record)

1366 - 29th September : ..............Crombleholme [Cro0002] amongst Roll of persons who promised to subscribe to the stipend of the Priest of the Altar of Our Lady at Ormskirk, Lancashire.  

1379 - Blackburn Hundred Poll Tax Return   

(28) Part of the Free Chase of Bouland (Bowland) Lancashire - (membrane 2, side 2 col. 2)

(Marginated against all entries : “stockmen" of the Lord Dul.....  (my thumb was over part of this word !)

(28.1) Adam de Knoll

(28.2) William del Trogh

(28.3) Thomas de Whitlyngale

(28.4) Nicholas le Turnover

(28.5) William Nelleson

(28.6) Adam de Crombholeholme  [Cro0168]  

Sum :   ???

The Poll Tax of 1379 was the second poll tax within two years and was created by officials on behalf of the young King Richard II to fund England's ongoing conflict with France. These Poll Taxes were the first taxes levied on the peasant classes and were a principal cause of the Peasant's Revolt of 1381. The records are however reasonably detailed and give occupations and names of the local residents.

1420 - Joan Crombleholme (nee Bradley) [Cro0004] the wife of Thomas Crombleholme [Cro0003] and sister of Henry Bradley of Chipping in 1420 received from the feof fees lands in Ribchester, Thornley and Wheatley the remainders being to Christopher Crombleholme  [Cro0005] son of Thomas and Joan and to Joan's right heirs. (see The Crombleholme of Dutton Family   for more details)  (Source : History of Lancashire Vol VII Blackburn Hundred : Chipping p35)  

Note : Could this be the same Thomas C as [Cro0015] keeper of the pale in Leagram deer park ? Perhaps unlikely as Thomas C [15] was a carpenter whereas Thomas C [3] had married into the Bradley family (local land owning family). 

1422 :  From the account of Henry of Worsley (the chief instaurator of Bolland Chase) rendered from Michaelmas 1422 to the following Michaelmas:

"......A certain close, evidently called after Richard of Spaldington who was keeper of the chase of Bowland 1327, was leased at 8s 8d yearly to Nicholas of Swinehurst. Three parts of Brogseholme (Browsholme) were used for the royal stock but a fourth part of the herbage was let for 10s. yearly. £4 was accounted for from the farm for the pasture called the Leghes, leased during the year with two places beyond Baxsholfswarde, and eight acres of waste land.

"The latter Henry Langtaa had lately enclosed, and all these premises were formally let at 66s 8d, and in addition Crumbilholme lately held by John of Threlfall at 6s 8d was included in the above rent and leased to Hoghton with other vaccaries."

The Quarter days and Rent days through the year were:

Lady Day   : March 25th.    (Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin)

Michaelmas : September 29th (Feast of St Michael & All Angels)

Christmas  : December 25th. (Feast of the Nativity)

Midsummer  : July 6th       (up to AD 1754 thereafter June 24th)

Note : "Herbage" was rent described as the sale of grass for stock. A forest officer seems to have travelled round collecting agistment rents from those grazing their cattle. Turf and wood were also taken into consideration. The wood sold to the smithy or forge in Bashall amounted to 23s, and this was as much as the rent from one of the farms. There were expenses of course and these consisted mostly of the upkeep of the timber buildings and enclosures.

The workings and laws of the forest are described in greater detail in the section dealing with the branch of the Crombleholme family who lived as forest dwellers and pallisters at Loudmytham near Leagram.

1479 - 18th November : John Cromholme [Cro ?? ] mayor (?) witness to a Grant in Doncaster.   Wm Beston barccar (?) of Doncaster grants a messuage in Mellane between cemetery of St Mary Magdalen and the highway in Doncaster to Thos Kateryk.   Witness : John Cromholme, mayor, Wm Lawson, Thos Turton, Stephen Atkynson etc at Doncaster Thursdau after St Martin 19 Edw IV. (Seal) Date 18 Nov 1479.    (Source : Nottinghamshire Archives Ref 157 DD/FJ Foljambe of Osberaton - Deeds & Estate papers - index only in NA. RC Oct 2023)

There are some early and probably totally unrelated non Lancashire references (which were found in the Fawcett Clergy Index at the Society of Geneologists in London back in the 1980's) 

William Crumbe called Chaplain of Sel in Sussex, c1270-80.

Robert le Crumbe in 1199 recorded in an assize in Staffordshire (Seldon Soc 59 1940 (OS) 3-7)

Maud le Crumbe (presumed his wife)

Simon Crumbe 1296 (SR Sussex)

1586 - 16th December : Thornton (Bradford, Yorkshire) Release by John Lacy of Cromwellbothome in the parish of Halifax, gent...... (Source : Yorkshire Deeds Vol 3 Item 399 edited by William Brown) Note : John Lacy's mother was Alice Townley. 

Date ? : Foundation of Abbey of Stanlawe by the Lacys (p244); Lacy of Cromwellbothome; ...... see this link also : Cromwelbothome

^ Above : Photograph (RC) and extract of OS map of the site described below.

From the OS map extract and the photograph above, showing the above land in detail it can be seen that the topography of "the flat land enclosed in the bend of the river" (Hodder) to the north of the Loud Mytham site fits this description perfectly.

From this "origin" area various branches of the family appear to have developed. Some took up livings as clerics in nearby Ribchester and thus gained property and wealth. Others remained living in the immediate area and dwelt in the forest as tenants of the de Hoghtons.

October 2023 - here's a link to an excellent  Youtube video taken from a drone of the area

youtu.be/0J_79pYYONY?feature=shared 

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